Racing Leopardstown report: Vinnie Roe's first race of 2005 was in doubt right up to half an hour before last night's Saval Beg Stakes, but the four-time St Leger winner that Dermot Weld describes as "a once in a lifetime horse" eventually showed what the Leopardstown crowd nearly missed out on.

Despite topweight of 10-2, and ground the jockeys almost uniformly described as "firm", Vinnie Roe travelled beautifully throughout and beat his stable companion Mutakarrim by a length and a half.

Weld and stable jockey Pat Smullen combined on the night for a treble on the six-race card, but there was no doubting the pride of place the seven-year-old holds at Rosewell House.

"A horse like him only comes along once in a lifetime," Weld said. "He's an amazing horse. When you consider he won his two-year-old maiden here five years ago he retains an amazing enthusiasm for the game.

"He has been working exceptionally well this spring, but is actually six kilos heavier than he was at this time last year. Given a little ease in the ground he will represent us well in the Gold Cup at York," he added.

It was precisely the lack of ease that so concerned Weld beforehand. After the first race, Smullen and the trainer's number two jockey, Pat Shanahan, said the ground was too fast for Vinnie Roe.

Weld walked the straight after that first race, examined the back straight after the second, and only then decided to take his chance.

"We made the hard call, but the ground was safe and he needed the run if he was to go to the Gold Cup," he said.

This will be Vinnie Roe's final season, and the long-term plan after York will be to try to secure a fifth Irish St Leger and try to go one better than last November in the Melbourne Cup.

"We're hoping for a grand finale!" joked Weld.

Vinnie Roe was cut slightly for the Gold Cup by Paddy Power who make him a 9 to 2 chance.

Earlier, Sapphire Stone, a €115,000 purchase at last year's Orby sale, earned a crack at a black type race after justifying considerable market support in the seven-furlong maiden.

Smullen elected to make all on the colt, who showed definite improvement for his Gowran Park debut and was not all out to hold off Glasog by a length and a half, with the other joint-favourite, Rol'over Beethoven, back in third.

"He's a lovely individual who definitely learned for his first race. It wasn't in much doubt for some time.

"I'll find a Stakes race for him next," Weld said.

Hidden Charm was also prominent throughout in the six-furlong maiden, but there was only half a length between herself and Monthly Medal at the line.

"She's a tough little thing and loved that ground. All these Big Shuffle horses like it fast," said Weld.

The surface was also good for the 14 to 1 outsider Sahara Prince, who outgunned the favourite, Chained Emotion, by three-parts of a length in the seven-furlong handicap.

Sahara Prince's only previous career win from 22 starts came at Haydock last August on soft ground, but his trainer, Michael Cunningham, was delighted to see the conditions last night.

"His biggest problem at Navan last time was the heavy ground so the change here helped," he said after greeting jockey Fran Berry, who was riding his 23rd winner of the season.

"It also helped to have the leading man on him. He is flying."

Weld and Smullen had the joint favourite, Kova Hall, in the 10-furlong handicap, but this one could only manage third behind Bective Ranger.